Package forming and sealing machine



Sept. 17, 1935. F. A. CHEKIAN PACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE FiledOct; 13, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q5 m Lu Sept. 17, 1935. A. CHEKIANPACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. FRANK/16115104 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 17, 1935. F. A. CHEKIAN PACKAGE FORMING AND SEALING MACHINE FiledOct. 13, 1935 INVENTOR.

F/P/I/VAA CHEM/41V ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1 7, 1935 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE FORMINGSEALING v MACHINE fornia Application October l3, 1933, Serial No.693,442

Claims. wise-s) This invention relates to machines for packing foodproducts into bags andsealing the ends of the. bags, and the objects ofthe invention are to provide a machine and processparticularly 5 adaptedto compress dried fruit such as dried raisins, dried prunes, driedapricots, dried figs and other dried fruits, and/or materials .having aresilient or springy nature, tightly into paperor more particularlytransparent regenerated m cellulose bags, fold and seal the end of thebag, all as a continuous process while retaining the bag in arectangular mold so that the finished package will present a clean-cutcarton-like appearance and be tightly filled with the dried fruit 5 orother product. Other features and advantages of the invention willappear in the follow-,

ing description and accompanying drawings.

- 'In the drawings Fig. 1 isa side elevation of the machine broken inlength and with portion of the plunger controlling mechanism shown insection. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end viewin section as seen from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a stillfurther enlarged view partly in section of the plunger and housingportion of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view-of the first bagclosing operation of'the folding cams and roller .80 as seen from the.far side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion oi the machine as seenfrom the line 6 -6 of Fig. 2 showing the successive folding of theflaps.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a finished and sealed regeneratedcellulose bag as of dried raisins, as produced by themachine.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of the flap folding idler wheelshowing its manner of mount-' ing.

Briefly described the machine comprises a' series of travelingrectangular bag supporting forms each'with one side open and into whicha regenerated cellulose bag is positioned, the bag having a sealed lowerend and inwardly supported by a sheet metal rectangular funnel whichprojects out'of the upper end of the bag and may be filled with thedesired quantity of dried fruit before inserting in the traveling formsor may be filled after placing in the form. As the bags and theirfunnels travel along, plungers descend-to compressthe fruit within thefunnels while at the same time the funnels are drawn upwardly out 55 ofthe bags. The fruit is compressed into the and the former geared at oneend on a drive shaft III in turn geare witli attachment links carryingplates 20 which bags beiow the point desired in the finished" package,the plungers are withdrawn, upper ends of the bags quickly folded andsealed with 'quick drying cement, but not folded tightly against thefruit, as the fruit was compressed below the point .5 where the bags arefolded and sealed. The sealed packages then pass along under a travelingbelt for a time to permit the compressed fruit to expand upward to takeup the room left at top f the bag. and force the folded flaps tightly to10 gether against the under side of the belt until the cement is set,and after which an ejector carried by each form is operated to eject thefinished package out of the open side of the form.

In further detail the drawings show at l the frame of the machine, 2 along flat table-like top in a central slot in which runs an endlesschain conveyor 3 passing over sprockets l and 5 at opposite ends,mounted on transverse shafts 6, l,

the latter being equipped with suitable take-up boxes, 8 for preservingproper working tension a pinion 9 at H to a transverse shaft l2 in turngeared at It! to a shaft i4 belted or chain-driven as-at l5 to a 25suitable speed reducing gear set in casing IS in turn driven by anelectric motor ll, the speed reducing gear set being of any conventionaltype and provided with a hand wheel I8 or other device for changing theoutput speed to-suit,-the. whole being preferablycarried on the machinebracing I! as indicated.

-' Chain conveyor'3 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is fitted is a flat ejectorplate 24 provided with an actuating stein 25 projecting rearwardly intoa guiding boss 26. This stem has a collar 21 secured to its outer endand a pin 28 proiecting'downwardly from the collar through a slot 29 inthe boss and carrying a smaller roller 30 for operation in a manner tobe later described to eject the package,

while a coiled spring 3| within the boss normally retracts the. ejectorplate to the position shown.

The regenerated cellulose bags, 32, used are 'pre-made with a closedbottom and each is fitted over the outside of a rectangular sheet metalfunnel 32 before being brought to the machine,

and the funnel with its bag fits snugly into the open side of the formwith the funnel resting-at its lower end on the fiat bottom of the bagin turn supported on the fiat base 22 of the form. This assemblage ofbag and funnel may, as stated, be previously filled with the desiredquantity of measured or weighed fruit or other commodity, or may befilled on the machine as from a sup.- ply spout 34 if desired.

As the vertically disposed bags and their funnels travel along (indirection of the arrow in Fig. 1) they come under plungers 35 whichdescend within the funnels to compress the fruit. These plungers (seeFigs. 3 and 4) are mounted on the lower ends of square rods 36vertically slidable in hollow guides 31 in turn carried by clampingbrackets 38 secured to plates 39 carried by an endless conveyor chain 48which passes over horizontal sprockets 4!, 42 carried on asuperstructure 43, and which also forms guides in which plates 38 slidewhile-being retained in position by strips 44, the guide for the chainbeing in plan like a fiat sided oval with one run directly in line overthe run of chain 8 below.

Sprocket 42 is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 45 geared atits lower end asat 46 to shaft l4 in a manner to drive the upper chain40 in direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) and main: tain the plungers inregister with the funnels being carried on the lower chain.

Plungers 35 are rectangular to fit freely within therectangular funnelsand they are normally drawn upward to the limit of their stroke 'by.

spiral springs 41 within each guide 31 reacting between the lbwer head48 of the guide and a collar 45 secured to the rod 38, and they areforced downward into the funnels during the travel of the same by meansof an angularly arranged fixed track or cam 58 which overlies the pathof travel and ride over rollers carried on pins 52 extending" laterallyfrom the upper ends of rods 88. This track cam forcesthe plunger down toa point about a half inch more or less than the desired height of thefruit in the package and holds it there for some time during thehorizontal rim of the track indicated at 58', and then suddenly releasesit and the plunger moves outwardly and its roller engages over a secondtrack 53 which continues for a distance only around the oval path oftravel to positively hold the plungers out and relieve the springs ofthis work.

While the plungers are thus being forced downward 'into the funnels thelatter are being withdrawn upward by the engagement of a pair of similarcam tracks 54 but at their upper edges with small rollers 55 carried onpins 56 projecting from opposite sides of the funnels (see Fig. 4) Thefunnels are thus entirely withdrawn from the bags and they fall from themachine at the end 54 at the end of their lifting tracks either to achute 51 or they may be taken by an operator for reinsertion in anotherbag and refilling for replacement on the machine as described.

After the operations just described the compressed package proceeds withthe empty upper end of the bag projecting above the three-sided form asshown at A in Fig. 1 for the first folding operation, and which iscarried out by means of the combined effects of a driven wheel 58 and apair of revolving cam plates 58' which sweep across opposite sides ofsaid wheel. -The wheel 58 and cam plates are only about a third of thewidthof the bag as will be seen by-reference to Fig? wherein the bagbeing operated on is desigforces a tight contact of the regeneratedcellulose layers.

nated C. Said wheel is supported by means of a bracket arm 60 carrying acircular plate 5| countersunk into the side of wheel 58 and from whichthe pivot 62 of the wheel extends to a smaller disk 63 countersunk inthe opposite side 5 of the roller. This construction is to permit thespaced cam plates 59 to work close to opposite sides of the wheelwithout interfering with shaft or hubs. The wheel 58 is driven by awheel 58 provided with a -non-skid peripheral surface of 1 rubber orsimilar material disposed in driving contact with the outer surface ofwheel 58. The

.wheel 58 is adapted to be positively driven by a sprocket and chain (asindicated in Figs. 5 to 7) at a rate of speed slightly faster than thespeed at which the package is advanced.

Cam plates 59 are carried on a short horizontal shaft 64 positivelydriven as by chain drive 65 from shaft l2. The plates 59 are somewhatoval-shaped with a shoulder at 56 arranged to come around and strike theoutside of the rear wall of the projecting bag about the time the wheel58 strikes the leading wall. Fig. 1 shows at A the bag before beingengaged by the cam plates, while Fig. 5 shows position B of the bag withboth cam plates and wheel as having bent the regenerated celluloseinwardly, and position C shows the bag leaving the wheel with the top ofthe bag folded to the horizontal and with the pointed side flaps as at61 projecting upwardly at opposite sides of wheel 58 ready to be foldedover one On top of the other and glued in place as the bag advances. 1

It should be noted that the setting of wheel 58 and cam plates 59 doesnot result in folding the bag down upon the fruit level 68 but preservesan air space above it for subsequent expansion of the fruit. Afterleaving position 0 a fountain brush 69 charged with rapid settingadhesive suitable for regenerated cellulose, smears a small streakacross the folded upper layer of the package, and this is closelyfollowed it position D by a curved sheet metal fin III which is formedto bend one of the pointed side flaps inwardly and then ride over it. Asecond fountain brush "H then smears a little cement upon the top of thefolded side flap as it passes under the brush, and a second curved plateor fin 12 engages the remaining or opposite side flap and folds it overagainst the pasted top of the first one. The package still within itsthree-sided form 28 continues its travel along the machine and, ridesunder a flat overlying belt 13 passing over pulleys 14, 15 mounted onhorizontal shafts 15, 11, either one being driven at the same surfacespeed as the package conveyor as by means of a chain drive 18 from shaftl2. 7

The lower run of belt 13 is arranged to hold the cemented fiaps down,and it may be backed up by a rigid guide 15 if required as it is the.object to ride the packages along under it for a .time period to permitthe compressed fruit to set. This, however, takes but a few moments by'reason of the quick setting cement used so that the belt contact neednot'be more than a few feet in length as the expansion of the driedfruit creates a considerable upward pressure and 70 As the sealed andcompleted pass from under the last belt pulley II the roller 38 on thestem 2s r the ejecting plate 24 comes engaged bythe walls' of areceiving chute or laterally extending guide 82. pleted packages isshown in perspective at F in One of the comof a springy nature which maybe compressed downward-bylthe plungers and will thereafter slowly expandupward when the pressure 'is released, though it will be evident tothose skilled in the art that the invention has value for packingvarious products, even if all of its advantages are not realized in "thepacking of some products.

It is also to be noted that I preferably provide a guide member 90 onthe upper side of the table 2, extending alongside the open side of theforms 23. This guide member is a long strip positioned edgewise to theplane of the table and functions to assist in keeping the funnels in theforms 23 during that portion of their travel in whichthefunnelsare'engaged in the bags 32 and also to assist in supportingthe packages of raisins.

Means may also, be provided for successively cleaning the end surfacesof the plungers. before they enter the funnels to press the fruit intothe packages, and such means may comprise a wiper of any desired form,such means not being shown nor specifically claimed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of packaging resilient material which comprisescompressing the material into a flexible paper-like bag confined in aform, and

' forcing the material toa level below that desired, folding the openend of the bag over and at a point spaced above the material andapplying cement thereto, then confining the outside folded top of thebaguntil the expanding material has iorcedthe folded layers tightlytogether, and thereafter removing'the bag from confinement.' 2. Themethod of packaging resilient material which comprises compressing thematerial into a flexible bag" while sustaining the same againstbursting, and forcing the material to a level below that desired in thecompleted package, folding and cementing the open end of the'bag overthe compressed material before the material has e p nded to the desiredlevel of the'completed Package, then confining the outside of the foldedend at the desired level of the completed package until expansion of thematerial forces a tight joint of the folds retained by the cement.

4 ji'ality of rectangular funnelsadapted'to each fit 'into a bag as ofregenerated cellulose to be filled 3.In a, machine for packaging driedfruit and other materials, an endless conveyor, a series of rectangularforms carried by said conveyor a pluand the funnel and its bag to fitwithin any of said forms, a series of plungers arranged to descend intothe funnels when supported inthe forms and compress the contents meansfor forcing the plungers to descend during the travel ofthe conveyor,means for extracting the funnels from the bags while the plungers arerespec- 5 tively in compressing position, and; means for thereafterextracting the plungers from the bags.

4. In a machine for packaging dried fruit and other materials,.anendless conveyor, a series of rectangular forms carried by saidconveyor, a plurality of rectangular funnels adapted to each fit into abag as of regenerated cellulose to be filled and the funnel and its bagto fit within any of said forms, a series of plungers arranged todescend into the funnels when supported in the forms and compress thecontents, means for forcing the plungers to descend during the travel ofthe conveyor, means for extracting the funnels from the bags while theplungers are respectively in compressing position, and means forther'eafter extracting the plungers from the bags, said forms providedwith one open side and end for the insertion of the funnel with its bagin place.

5. In a machine as specified in claim 4, means for ejecting the filledpackages from the side of said forms.

' 6. In a machine as specified in claim 3, ,means along the run of theconveyor for folding and sealing the open end of the bag, and means forejecting the sealed bags from the side of the forms. '7. In a machine asspecified in claim 3, means along the run of the conveyor for foldingand sealing the open ends of the bags including a belt traveling withthe packages and holding the folded ends closed until the folds adhere,and means for ejecting the sealed bags from'the side of the forms.

8. In a packaging machine, .an elongated table, an endless conveyor onhorizontal axes arranged 40 with its upper run in said table, .aplurality of bag-holding forms carried by said conveyor, a

second endless conveyor on vertical axes arranged above said table withone run aligned over the upper run of the form conveyor, a series of'plung- 5 ers carried by the upper conveyor each aligned over one ofsaid bag-holding forms, means for causing both conveyors to travel atthe same speed, and meansfor successively lowering and raising theplungers relative to the second con- 5 veyor into the bag-holding forms.

9. -In a packaging machine, an elongated table, an endless conveyor onhorizontal axes arranged with its upper run' in said table, a pluralityof bag-holding forms carried by said conveyo a second endless conveyoron vertical axes arranged abcve said table with one run aligne over theupper run of the form conveyor, a series of plungers carried by theupper conveyor each aligned over one of said bag-holding forms, meansfor causing both conveyors to travel at the same speed, a series offunnels each with a bag to be filled slipped thereover and fittingwith-*- in said forms, means for successively lowering and raising theplungers in the funnels for compressing any contents thereof and meansfor, successively lifting the funnels out of the bags during the loweredposition of the funnels."

10. In a construction as specified in claim 8, the means for loweringthe plungers comprising a cam, and the raising means a spring.

11. In a construction as specified in claim 8, the means for loweringthe plungers. comprisinga cam and the raising'means a spring and meansfor locking the plungers against descent during a portion of theirtravel.

12. In a machine for filling containers such as paper bags, tubularmembers adapted each to fit within a container, a rigid form into whichthe tubular member and its bag fits and is supported at the bottom, aplunger arranged above the tubular member when in place in the form,means for causing the plunger to descend to compress material placed inthe tubular member, means for holding the plunger depressed for a period-of time, separate means for withdrawing the funnel and plungerrespectively, means for simultaneously moving the form, tubular member,and plunger along a path of travel.

13. The method of packaging resilient material which comprises applyingpressure to the top of resilient material within a paper-like bag tocompress the material to substantially below the desired level of thetop of the closed bag while sustaining the sides and bottom of the bagagainst bursting, removing the pressure from the top of said resilientmaterial, folding and cementing the 'top of the bag over the compressedmaterial during upward expansion of the resilientmaterial and before ithas expanded to the height of the folded top, then confining the foldedtop of'the bag against upward movement at the point of the desired levelof the folded bag until expansion of the resilient material forces atight joint of the folds retained by the cement.

14. In a packaging machine, means for compressing dried fruit and thelike into flexible bags as of regenerated cellulose to a point below thedesired level defined by the top of the bag when the top is folded andsealed, means supporting the bags against injury during compression ofthe fruit therein, separate means for folding and sealing the top of thebags at a point spaced above the contents after compression, and, meansfor supporting the closed bags until expansion of the compressedcontents to thereby form tight folds at the top of the bags,the meansfor folding the top of the bags including a wheel passing against andacross the tops of the bags in a manner to bend the bags inward over thecontents, and a pair of devices lying to opposite sides of said wheelarranged to move across the bags in a direction toward said wheel tofold the opposite edge inward over the contents and thereby form- 11 ingtwo pointed flaps on each bag at the two other sides of the bag, andmeans for folding down the pointed flaps.

15. In a packaging machine, means for compressing dried fruit and thelike into flexible bags 15 as of regenerated cellulose to a point belowthe desired level defined by the top of the bag when folded and sealed,means supporting the bags against injury during compression -of thefruit therein, separate means for folding and sealing the top'of thebags at a. point spaced above the contents after compression, and meansfor supporting the closed bags until expansion of the compressedcontents to thereby form tight folds at the top of the bags, the meansfor folding the 25 top of e bags including a wheel passi ng against andacr $5 the tops of the bags in a manner to bend the bags inward over thecontents,-a pair of devices lying to opposite sides of said wheelarranged to move across the bags in a direction toward said wheel tofold the opposite edge inward over the contents, and thereby forming twoI pointed flaps on each bag at the two other sides of the bag, means forfolding down the pointed 35 flaps comprising curved fins adapted toengage the flaps in succession as the package is moved along and rideover the fiaps, and means for so moving the package.

'7 FRANK A. CHEKIAN. 4

